Dutch pedo Pieter Ceulen arrested in capital

Dutch pedophile Pieter Ceulen sits in custody in Phnom Penh after turning himself in to police earlier today. CPU

Dutch pedo Pieter Ceulen arrested in capital

Fri, 11 March 2016 ppp

Shaun Turton

Police today took fugitive Dutch pedophile Pieter Ceulen into custody after brokering his surrender via his lawyers, according to an investigator on the case.

“After intensive investigation occurred over the last week, Task Force Echo can proudly announce the arrest of the wanted fugitive Pieter Ceulen at approximately 12pm today,” said James McCabe, of the Child Protection Unit, which has been assisting the multi-agency task force in hunting the suspect.

“[The arrest] occurred in Phnom Penh as a result of negotiations with the offender, who after being the subject of intensive media and investigation believed he could not escape from Cambodia and, on that basis, decided to hand himself in to members of the CPU and the echo task force.”

“We had contact via… his lawyers. Belgian and Dutch police were also liaising with the lawyers.”

“He is now being held at the National Police headquarters Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department. The suspect will be processed to be formally handed over to the Belgian and Dutch police.”

Ceulen - given a 19-year sentence in absentia by a Belgian court on January 21 for distribution of child pornography and sex offences against children – has been on the run in the Kingdom, and has been spotted by residents in Siem Reap, where he has a villa.

McCabe said foreign pedophiles should take note.

”This should be a warning to all foreign pedophiles that perceive Cambodia as a safe haven; those days are well and truly gone, you will be located and will be arrested and returned.”